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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Christmas Countdowns 2014

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and that means it's time to start counting down to the big day! Today, I joined Studio 5 for another rendition of my Handmade Christmas Countdowns! It's been nine years running, so it feels a bit like one of my own Christmas traditions. I hope you'll love this year's creations!

The Pallet Tree

I've been wanting to make my own version of the pallet board tree for several years now, but was always too overwhelmed by the idea. This year, I finally bit the bullet and it was SO EASY!

Here's what you need to make your own:

4 wood fence slats (available from hardware stores)

Nails

A hammer

Furniture nails (for hanging bags)

Bags and numbers of your choice

Cut wood slats into pieces-one of each into the following lengths in inches: 52 (main post), 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 25, 29, 33, and two 10" lengths for the base. Use nails to assemble tree as shown.

Once tree branches are nailed in place, assemble base with several nails to secure as shown.

Get creative with your scraps and put together a collage topper you love. Start with a solid base piece and build from there. Add different combinations of lettering and embellishments until it's just right.

Print downloadable file on card stock and cut for pendants or tags or your desired media.

Adhere vintage santas to one side of the pendants and numbers to the other so that as days are turned over, they reveal a santa print.

Use stick pins to tack numbers into place.

Turn numbers over each day to reveal a new santa picture and count down the days until he arrives!

The Party Cracker

This cheery countdown couldn't have been easier to put together and it makes a great centerpiece for the month of December!

Here's what you need to make your own:

Pre-Decorated Cardboard tubes (got mine from Michaels for about $5 for 24)

If you're attaching numbers to fabric bags, print the iron on transfer number printable onto transfer paper and cut to size. Use an iron according to instructions on paper packaging to adhere printing to fabric bags.

Fill bags with treats and hang from branches.

Design a tag using bits and pieces available from scraps of stickers and paper. Use ribbon to tie tag to jar.

The Tin Pail Parade

If you're in need of a little mantle decor, this might be the ideal countdown for you. Pails are plenty big to hold a plethora of treats or games to help countdown to the big day! It would also be great as a table runner or shelf, or how about a window sill?